Bristol Zoo Education Centre entrance canopy

Intensegrity hypar entrance canopy

We had to build a model of this one to prove it to the structural engineer…

This structure imposes only light vertical loads as its structure is intensegrity – like a kite – relying on the timber and stainless struts and highly tensile wire ropes to keep it all stiff. We assembled it on the ground then lifted the whole thing into place. Spot the rocking corner attachments that send loads right around the structure back into itself. Douglas fir cigar-shaped struts with stainless flitch-plate details and rigging